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Herbacious Border suggestions

johngbeauchampjohngbeauchamp Posts: 28
in Garden design
We are building a terraced garden (on a steep clay slope) and have built sizeable retaining walls. Between one set of walls we have allowed for a border which is approx. 5' deep and i would love to plant it as an herbaceous border. Although north facing the border does get a fair amount of sun particularly in morning and evening. Does any one have any suggestions on what to plant there...I will be improving the soil with plentiful manure. I'll try and post a pic.

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    They is quite a lot of plants to pick from , what sort of colours are you looking for ? Most of my own garden is planted up with herbaceous perennials.  
  • johngbeauchampjohngbeauchamp Posts: 28
    I'm still trying to upload a pic! not sure about colours  so would take suggestions on that also.I have planted small apple tree in each border and do like delphinium
  • johngbeauchampjohngbeauchamp Posts: 28

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Thats a lot of stone work. 
    It certainly needs the soil level raising. What is going in the bed behind or is it going to be grass? As some trailing alpine type plants would look nice.
    As to plants it depends on your budget and what's readily available. Cheapest way is to buy  perennials in 9cm pots, buying in 3,  5 or 7. Only drawback they will be small and you never leave enough space between plants or at least I don't and end up repositioning.
    Easiest way to look at plants is to look at nursery websites to see what you like. Crocus is a good site as they do several border ideas, give you sizes and offer suggestions as to what goes well. They are a bit pricey though but plenty of cheaper sites online.

  • johngbeauchampjohngbeauchamp Posts: 28
    K67 said:
    Thats a lot of stone work. 
    It certainly needs the soil level raising. What is going in the bed behind or is it going to be grass? As some trailing alpine type plants would look nice.
    As to plants it depends on your budget and what's readily available. Cheapest way is to buy  perennials in 9cm pots, buying in 3,  5 or 7. Only drawback they will be small and you never leave enough space between plants or at least I don't and end up repositioning.
    Easiest way to look at plants is to look at nursery websites to see what you like. Crocus is a good site as they do several border ideas, give you sizes and offer suggestions as to what goes well. They are a bit pricey though but plenty of cheaper sites online.


    Thanks so much. yes going to grass upper layers and will fit it up with barrows of manure. Suspect it'll be groups of 7 but will take advice re spacing them apart any suggestions for colours of flowers or best showy herbaceous plants for clay soil much appreciated...overwhelmed with choice right now!
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I would plant groups of delphiniums, hardy geraniums, clematis on obelisks, roses, scabious, peonies, hellebores, and a selection of spring bulbs in the autumn. We have clay soil on a steep slope and they all do pretty well for me. As for colour, that's a personal preference, it's usually either pastels that people like, others prefer bright hot colours, but don't mix them. Like K67 says, look at the Crocus website or the RHS website who give suggestions for clay soil.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    Much the same as lizzie I also have amended clay on fairly steep slope. Front garden is terraced. If your confident that you are getting 6 hours a day sunlight...lots of plants will do well in amended clay. Stay away from exotics, or plants need good drainage and light soil. I. E agapanthus, dianthus, lavender, most herbs etc. Geranium rozanne will grow anywhere. On top of lizzie's list I'd add hydrangeas, hostas and fuscias
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited April 2020
    It's always going to look better if you limit your plants and plant in quite big groups, thinking about the height and form of them in terms of positioning. For instance you could have three groups of x5 Veronicastrum spaced out (not perfectly equally spaced, plant two a bit closer together which looks more natural). Between them plant groups of Sedum Matrona (groups of 5-7) and Salvia 'Purple Rain' (groups of 3) and Geranium 'Rozanne' or 'Anne Folkard'.... you only need to plant those in 1's and leave them a bit of space to sprawl - use that space to plant spring bulbs/alliums and the Geraniums will cover them over as they grow. Pop in something statuesque like Euphorbia characias on the leading edge or corner where it will have space to grow and be seen from all angles (Stipa gigantea would do a similar job although it's obviously very different looking). One or two herbaceous clematis would be nice positioned at the front where they can flop over the wall. Alchemilla mollis looks nice at the front of the border and flopping over stonework but it does self seed heavily. 

    This is a purpley-blue colour scheme with punches of magenta and lime green, which is a bit predictable, but tends to work well. Obviously, just a starter for ten. Have a look at perennial planting schemes YOU like, especially ones in similar spots, and go from there.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • johngbeauchampjohngbeauchamp Posts: 28
    crikey crikey! So much fantastic info.  I’m hugely grateful, particularly for the names of plants to go for. It’s a fantastic start for me. I’ll do a plan and some research and post my plan and updates.  Hugely kind of you all to share such great ideas. J
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